July 17, 2009, 2:22 pm
Sanford Aide Resigns
By Robbie Brown
The communications director for Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina announced on Friday that he is resigning in the wake of a scandal in which the governor admitted an extramarital affair.
The communications director, Joel Sawyer, who acted as the governor’s spokesperson throughout the scandal that dominated national media coverage for several days last month, will pursue “other opportunities in the private sector,” according to a statement issued by the governor’s office.
“It’s truly been an honor to serve both Mark and the people of South Carolina for the past six and a half years,” Mr. Sawyer said in the statement. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make, because I have and will continue to be such an ardent supporter of what this administration is working to accomplish. I firmly believe that despite recent events, great things to move our state forward can be done during the remaining 18 months of this administration.”
He continued: “The public nature of my job might lead some to speculate about my reasons for leaving, but I want to be crystal clear that my departure is purely about what’s best for me and my family on a personal and financial level. I wish Mark and the rest of my talented and dedicated colleagues the best.”
Throughout the scandal, Mr. Sawyer fielded probing, relentless questions from the media about the governor’s mysterious disappearance to Argentina, where he was conducting an affair with 43-year-old María Belén Chapur. During the governor’s latest trip to Argentina, he left his staff with few details about his location or plans. In the frenzy that ensued after other South Carolina politicians could not reach Mr. Sanford, Mr. Sawyer issued a statement that the governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail — a claim he later reversed when the governor’s location became public.
In the statement on Friday, Mr. Sanford said: “Joel has been a wonderfully devoted and skillful member of our team. The people of our state have benefited greatly from his service, as has this Administration , and I sincerely thank him. We will miss him, but I join the rest of the staff in wishing Joel and his young family all the best in their future endeavors,” Sanford said.
The governor’s cabinet director, Ben Fox, will become communications director after Mr. Sawyer leaves on Aug. 5.
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